Odyssey Marine Exploration Publishes Research from the Tortugas Shipwreck Excavation

Tampa, FL - April 9, 2013 - Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NasdaqCM: OMEX), a pioneer in the field of deep-ocean exploration, has published a new series of scientific papers on the Tortugas shipwreck which was originally excavated in 1990 and 1991.

“Oceans Odyssey 3 is a product of our ongoing commitment to publish quality archaeological reports,” said Greg Stemm, Odyssey Marine Exploration’s CEO. “The comprehensive archaeological excavation of the Tortugas shipwreck over 20 years ago paved the way for innovative advances in the methodology and robotic technology that we use to this day.”

“This was one of the most important shipwreck finds of its time,” continued Stemm. “The archaeological world had long wondered what a colonial shipwreck would look like in the depths of the ocean, and whether it was possible to actually conduct archaeological fieldwork using robotics. Both these questions were answered by the Tortugas shipwreck. It was clear from the condition of this site that deep water shipwrecks were not going to be the perfectly preserved specimens that scientists had hoped for - unfortunately nature and trawlers caused significant damage even at those depths. The excavation team also proved that it was possible to conduct a sensitive archeological excavation remotely with an archaeologist supervising ROV technicians.”

The Tortugas shipwreck was discovered in the Straits of Florida in 1989 at a depth of 405 meters. The fieldwork commenced in 1990 and was the world’s first comprehensive deep-ocean archaeological excavation conducted exclusively using advanced robotics and acoustic positioning. Nearly 17,000 artifacts, ranging from gold bars to silver coins, pearls, ceramics, beads, glassware, astrolabes, tortoiseshell, animal bones and seeds, were recovered from the site during the 1990-1991 excavation seasons. The Tortugas shipwreck reflects the daily life of trade with the Americas at the end of the Golden Age of Spain and demonstrated the capabilities of deep-sea robotics as tools for precision archaeological excavation.

Built in Portugal and operated by Spanish merchants, the Buen Jesús was part of the Spanish Tierra Firme flota lost in September 1622 during a ferocious hurricane that struck the Florida Keys. Evidence suggests that this merchant navio had sailed from Seville to Cumana in eastern Venezuela to pick up a large consignment of pearls and probably the newly cultivated cash crop tobacco as well as other valuables including gold and silver from the New World.

“The Tortugas shipwreck dates to the Golden Age, the dazzling world of creativity epitomized by El Greco, Velázquez and Cervantes,” said Dr. Sean Kingsley, director of Wreck Watch Int. and editor of Oceans Odyssey 3. “Rather than staring at paintings, the Buen Jesús lets us dive into the 3D world of the past and study an extraordinary moment in time.”

In conjunction with the Oceans Odyssey 3 release, Odyssey is featuring artifacts from the shipwreck in its free virtual museum, available at www.OdysseysVirtualMuseum.com. Odyssey’s touring exhibition SHIPWRECK!, also features artifacts from the Tortugas shipwreck. Artifacts recovered from the shipwreck are also maintained in Odyssey’s permanent collection, which is available for study by qualified academics and for exhibition by museums and science centers. Oceans Odyssey 3 is available for purchase in Odyssey’s Shipwreck Store at www.ShipwreckStore.com.

Following previous successful engagements in New Orleans, Tampa, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Charlotte, Baltimore, Sarasota, San Antonio, and Hot Springs, Odyssey's SHIPWRECK! exhibition is currently on display at the Museum of Science, Boston.

About Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NasdaqCM: OMEX) is engaged in deep-ocean exploration using innovative methods and state-of-the-art technology for historic shipwreck projects, modern commodity shipwrecks and mineral exploration. The company has a majority ownership stake in Oceanica Resources, and minority ownership stakes in Neptune Minerals and Chatham Rock Phosphate, Ltd, all companies controlling exclusive mineral licenses for areas believed to contain high-value ocean floor mineral deposits. Odyssey also provides contracting services, including proprietary deep-ocean expertise and equipment, to governments and companies around the world.

Odyssey offers various ways to share in the excitement of deep-ocean exploration by making shipwreck treasures and artifacts available to the general public, students, and collectors through its webstore, exhibits, books, television, merchandise, educational programs and virtual museum located at www.OdysseysVirtualMuseum.com. The company also maintains a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/OdysseyMarine and a Twitter feed @OdysseyMarine.

For details on Odyssey's activities and its commitment to the preservation of maritime heritage please visit www.shipwreck.net.

Forward-Looking Information

Odyssey Marine Exploration believes the information set forth in this News Release may including “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Report Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1993 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. Certain factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are set forth in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.